The Republic of China ordered 18 additional M142 HIMARS MRL.

The ROC Ministry of Defense also stated that the United States is accelerating the supply of these systems.

Taiwan will receive 18 additional HIMARS and other equipment as part of the project to purchase “long-range high-precision fire strike systems.”

Due to these additional systems, the number of HIMARS purchased by the Republic of China increased to 29.

“Additional equipment purchased as part of the entire project was originally planned to be delivered in 2027. The United States has made adjustments in response to our needs, the main equipment of the entire project can be delivered by 2026,” the statement reads.

In March 2020, Taiwan made a request for the purchase of 15 HIMARS from the United States, and this acquisition was provided for in the budget for fiscal 2019.

In October 2020, the U.S. State Department approved potential foreign military sales of 11 M142 HIMARS MRLs and related equipment to Taiwan.

The ROC signed contracts with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to purchase 11 M142 launchers, 17 International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (IFATDS) in June 2021.

The contract also included 64 M57 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and other related equipment.

According to local defense experts, these weapons systems can significantly strengthen the Taiwanese Armed Forces.

Taiwan decided to buy 18 more HIMARS after the country’s defense ministry abandoned its plan to purchase 40 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers from the United States, according to the state-owned Central News Agency (CNA).

The decision to abandon the purchase of howitzers was made after Washington said it could not deliver the M109 in time due to insufficient production capacity.